Apparatus for producing massage



Sep 14, 1965 K. v. HENRY 3,205,887

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MASSAGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1965 (D 2 INVENTO KEITH v. HE

ATTORNEY Se t. 14, 1965 K. v. HENRY APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MASSAGE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1963 INVENTOR. KEITH V. HENRY BY waif ATTORNEY I Sept. 14, 1965 K. v. HENRY 33 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MASSAGE Filed Jan. 15, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. KEITH V. HENRY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,205,887 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING MASSAGE Keith V. Henry, 1 20. Box 12, Harlan, 11nd. Filed Jan. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 251,543 4 Claims. (Cl. 128-57) This invention relates to an apparatus for producing massage and is adapted to impart a beneficial therapeutic effect, found to be useful for many purposes such as an aid to reducing, relieving stress, relaxing muscles, etc.

In providing a suitable therapeutic effect, it has been found that during massage treatment it is beneficial that the individual will be in a reclined position and it is advantageous if the person can be located at any preferred inclined position with either the feet or head raised by a preferred amount during the massage treatment.

Accordingly, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a beneficial massage treatment which is administered with the individual located at any preferred angular attitude.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel, easily regulated adjusting means available to the person receiving massage treatment whereby he can adjust his angular position by a preferred amount.

A further object of the invention is toprovide a massage-producing apparatus in which the massage treatment can be varied to suit individual preference, i.e., the treatment can be moderated or intensified as required or changed in accordance with the stage of treatment, all of this variation being by regulated means accessible to the person receiving treatment.

A further object of the invention is to provide massage treatment apparatus wherein the person receiving treatment is cushioned on resilient support means whereby the massage treatment is effective to produce a kneading action but will not produce any bruising effect.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a suitable clamping means whereby the person can receive treatment at whatever angular disposition is suitable but without slipping or falling from a reclined position.

It forms an important part of the present invention that an individual can provide a self-administered massage action in which the intensity can be regulated, and the individual receiving treatment can himself determine any of several inclined positions during the treatment or make a change position all by means of control equipment which are conveniently located for operation.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the massage equipment with a portion thereof broken away to illustrate the support elements;

FIG. 2 is a section view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the mounting structure of the support elements, looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken on line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detail view of the mechanism for raising and lowering the support platform of FIG. 1 whereby the head or feet can be elevated by a preferred mount; and

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the actuating mechanism and regulating device for controlling the massage apparatus.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the apparatus designated generally by reference numeral 10 includes a platform 12 which is made up of a plurality of weight-supporting spheres 14 of sponge rubber material or the like. The sponge rubber balls are mounted in rows and the reice spective rows are spaced closely together so that substantially all portions of the occupants body are engaged by a surface of one of the spheres 14. The spheres are covered by a pliable fabric 16 of any desired decorative pattern.

The massage spheres 14 are of a size, and distribution so that a person reclining on a platform 12 is subjected over his entire body to a kneading action from the spheres 14 which produce an effective massage action.

The fabric cover 16 is held taut by springs 18 which stretch the end of the fabric cover over the upper sections of the spheres 14 whether the platform 12 is supporting an occupant or not.

Generally speaking, the apparatus is occupied with the occupants head at end 20 and the feet at end 22, there being a control 24, by which the occupant can conveniently regulate the degree of massage action and attitude of the platform 12, i.e., the end 22 can be lowered so that the platform is horizontal or the end 22 can be raised in order to elevate the feet during massage.

At the foot end 22 is a bar 26 extending upwardly from each side and a heavy upholstered spring 30 which lowers downwardly on the occupants ankles in order to clamp the occupants feet between the upholstered bar 28 and padded bar 30 and thereby hold the occupant in place when the end 22 of the platform 12 is raised.

There are a number of spaced rows of spheres extending across the width of the platform 12, each row of the resilient spheres being constructed on a shaft 32 including a support tube 59 which extends through the center of the spheres and is mounted at its ends or the sides of the apparatus. The ends of the shaft are supported on stiff springs 34 (FIGURE 2) which are mounted within recesses 36 of levers 38 having pivotal mountings 40 which connect the levers with a support bar 42. Each lever 38 has a slot 44 so that the shaft 32 can move vertically against the resistance of the spring 34, but the shaft 32 is held endwise by means of a washer 46 at each of the opposite ends of the shaft 32, the washer being held in place by a cotter key 48. The shaft is prevented from kicking out of the slot 44 by means of a U-shaped clamp 50 and noise suppressor 52 which are secured to the lever by means of screws 54. Spacer washers 56 and a gasket 57 are provided between the endmost sphere and lever 38.

The vertical weight of the person is transferred from the spheres 14 to the shaft 32, and from the shaft 32 through the resilient springs 34 at the opposite shaft ends, to the levers 38 which are pivotally supported on the bar 42. A combination of the resiliency of the spheres 14 and the resiliency of the springs 34 enables the spheres to assume the contour of the occupants body, thereby enabling a more comfortable support regardless of the position or posture of the body onthe support platform 12.

Each of the spheres 14 is caused to oscillate vertically by an arcuate motion designated in FIG. 4, this motion being produced by reciprocal movement of actuator bar 58 which has a pivotal connection 60 with a respective one of levers 38 and causes the levers to move angularly back and forth responsively to reciprocation of bar 58. The bar 58 is moved (FIG. 6) by an arm 62 having a toggle connection 64 with a rotatable crank 66 which is turned by a shaft 68 having pulleys 78 which are rotated by belts 72. The belts 72 in turn are powered by pulley wheels 74 on a power shaft 76 which is rotated by a large diameter pulley wheel 78 and belt 80 connecting with a power take-off shaft 82 of motor 84.

The power take-off shaft 82 has a variable speed and the output speed is in direct proportion to spring resistance developed by stretching or relaxing a spring, this being accomplished by angular movement of the motor 84 about hinge 86. Thus, by moving the knob 88 and turning the lever 90, causing the lever 90 to turn about pivot 92, the depending rod 94 acting through clevice 96 causes the motor 84 to swing downwardly or upwardly about the hinge 86 to change the stretching action on the spring which is located between the shaft 82 and the output of the motor 84. By changing the stretching action on the spring, it is thereby possible to change the speed of output developed in the motor 84 to the pulley 78. This change of speed is reflected through the entire actuating system to the levers 38 which in turn vary the massage effect. Thus, for a brisk massage effect the knob 88 is adjusted to increase the output of the motor 84 to the levers 38; and, for a milder massage effect the knob 88 is moved to a position adjusting the angular position of .the motor 84 such that the output of the motor is reduced and the massage effect moderated.

A variable speed pulley output of the motor, using I an expanding spring operation is well. known in the art and does not constitute in its specific construction, a part of the present invention. A typical motor construction suitable for my purposes is one sold under the tradename Var-A-Cone, manufactured by Gerbing Manufacturing Company, Elgin, Illinois.

Knob 88 is within the convenient grasp of the user of the apparatus while in a reclined position. That is, the knob 88 is a finger-tip control of the person lying on the platform 12, and can conveniently be used to initiate, stop or change at any time the massage action.

After assuming a reclining position and having ankles in a clamped position between 28 and 30 (FIG. 1) the person may wish to assume an inclined position with his feet raised, providing a beneficial stretching action on the body simultaneously with the massage. This is accomplished by means of the adjuster lever 98 which operates a push-pull armored choke wire 100 (FIG. 5) leading to eyelet 102 which is adapted to raise piston rod 104 and thereby engage a yoke 108 with pin 110 of the lever 38 which, as it rocks back and forth by reciprocable bar 58 produces a fluid pumping action by the motor 111 which may, for convenience, be a master brake cylinder having an outlet line 112 leading to a lift cylinder 114.

The lift cylinder 114 has a piston (not shown) and piston rod 116 connected with lug 118. As the piston rod 116 is raised, lifting action is imparted through lug 118 to a platform 12 and the platform at end 22 raises upwardly, pivoting about the head end 20. The lifting action of the power cylinder 114 will continue so long as the occupant holds the yoke 108 in engagement with pin 110. Lifting is terminated by releasing the handle 98 and automatically, the yoke 108 disengages from the pin 110 and the angular position of the platform 12 is maintained.

Suitable hydraulic return lines 130 and 132 are used for conveying fluid from the cylinder to a reservoir 136, mounted at the top of the master cylinder 111 and valve 133 is available to the user to lower the inclination of the platform when desired.

An upper limit of inclination of the platform is established by a cable 138 which fastens to lug 118 and after passing through change-direction pulleys 140, 142 is connected with piston rod 104 to pull the piston rod 104 downwardly and disengage yoke 108 from pin 110 when the angular position of the platform has reached an upper limit. For example, an upper limit of about 30 or less can be established for terminating the pumping action of the fluid motor 111 regardless of the selection being made by cable 100 through handle 98. This feature is a safety factor designed to prevent damage to the apparatus and also to preclude any injury which might occur to the occupant by reason of an over-raising of the foot end 22. The upper limit of raising can be varied by changing the length of the cable 138. For example, the cable'138' can be lengthened so that the support platform is at an angle of 30 before the cable is stretched sufiiciently to disengage yoke 108 from pin 110 or the cable can be tightened to reduce the slack such that the platform is at an angle of only 15 when the cable tensions to pivot the piston rod 104 and disengage yoke 108 from pin 110.

In operation, the person assumes a reclining position on the platform 12 and the ankles are clamped between 28 and 30 and the motor 84 is started by turning on switch 150. In the reclining position, the weight of the body is supported directly on resilient spheres 14 which, in turn, transmit their supportive load to shaft 32, thence to springs 34.

A combination of the resiliency of spheres 14 and springs 34 is such that the platform will conform to the shape of the body portion in engagement therewith and substantially all portions of the body are, because of the size and spacing of the spheres. 14, engageable by said spheres 14. Consequently, when the motor 84 is energized and pulleys 70, 78 are caused to turn by the belts 72, 80 the crank 66 will rotate and the toggle 64 and arm 62 will cause bar 58 to reciprocate thereby rocking levers 38 back and forth on their pivotal mountings 40; the arcuate movement of the spheres 14 will produce an oscillating, massage effect on the body portions in engagement therewith. Massaging action can be varied from a slow, moderate action to a fast, brisk massage by increasing the output speed of the motor 84 through the knob 88, which changes the angular position of the motor 84 (FIG. 6) and adjusts the output speed of the motor 84. If the occupant desires to change horizontal position of the platform to raise the foot end 22 thereof, it is possible to do so by operating handle 98, which communicates through power cable a pivoting of the piston rod 104 to engage yoke 108 with pin 110 on one of the levers 38 (FIG. 5) so that the rocking action of the lever 38 will produce a pumping action on the fluid motor 111 and the power cylinder 114 will receive hydraulic fluid under pressure and will continuously raise, by a gentle raising action, the foot end 22 of the platform until the occupant disengages 108 from pin 110 by operation of handle 98. Eventually, if the described lifting should continue, the cable 138 will eventually pull the piston rod 104 downwardly because of tension produced in the cable 138, and this will occur when all the cable slack is taken up. Any further raising will then be effective to pull the piston rod 104 downwardly by the cable 138 and prevent further pumping action by the lever 38 on the fluid motor 111 through the piston 104 to terminate the raising operation.

When the occupant is at an inclined posture, the ankles are held firmly and there is a stretching action which complements the massage action, the massage action continuing as before without change except as adjusted by the knob 88 which controls the oscillating speed of the spheres 14.

It should be apparent from the foregoing description that there is provided by means of the present invention, a massage apparatus which is easily regulated and is accompanied by a changing position of the person undergoing massage treatment thereby to obtain maximum beneficial effect.

There is substantially no portion of the apparatus which is subject to wear and it is an important feature of the present invention that it is practically service-free. In the event one of the parts should become worn, or broken, it is easy to obtain access to all part sof the apparatus to effect a repair or replacement.

It has been found from actual use, that the apparatus will impart a relaxing and beneficial effect to relieve stiffness, soreness and has a tension-reducing after effect.

It is also contemplated to use the invention as a weightreducing aid because muscle tone is better preserved when the treatments are accompanied by appropriate dieting.

Without intending to be limited by these following figures, but merely for purposes of illustrating the usages. thereof, there has been provided with suitable results, a three-inch spring action with each roller following a five inch arcuate movement and a variable speed control, which provides carriage speed ranging from to 70 oscillations per minute.

While the present invention has been illustrated and described in connection with a single example embodiment, it will be understood that this is merely illustrative of the invention and is by no means restrictive thereof.

It is reasonable to expect that those skilled in the art can make numerous revisions and adaptations of the invention to suit individual design requirements, and such revisions and adaptations which incorporate the hereindisclosed principles are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims as equivalents of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a massage-producing apparatus:

a reclining surface having weight supporting members,

actuator means for providing an arcuate movement to said supporting members;

a hydraulic motor including means operatively connected with said weight supporting members to provide a pumping action;

a lift piston responsive to said pumping action and adapted to raise one end of said reclining surface to a desired angularity;

means for engaging and disengaging the operatively connectable means between the weight movable member and said hydraulic motor;

and means for disengaging said operative connection at a predetermined upper limit of angularity effected by said lift piston.

2. In a massage apparatus comprising, in combination:

(a) a stationary support bar, a body supporting platform means including a plurality of levers pivotally mounted on said stationary support bar in substantially parallel relationship to each other;

(b) a support tube having mounted thereon a number of rubber spheres;

(c) said levers having an elongated slot at one end receiving the end of said support tube;

((1) said levers having an elongated recess receiving a spring to resiliently mount said support tube so that the rubber spheres will conform to the shape of the body portion in engagement therewith;

(e) clamp means for holding said support tube in the lever slot;

(f) a movable actuator bar connected to the other end of said levers; and

(g) drive means for reciprocating said actuator bar to effect a massaging action on a portion of the body positioned on said supporting platform.

3. In a massage apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said drive means includes control means for varying the speed of reciprocation of the actuator bar to moderate or intensify the massage treatment to the body positioned on said supporting platform.

4. In a massage apparatus as set forth in claim 2 including a hydraulic cylinder connected to the supporting platform at one end for raising and lowering said platform, a hydraulic motor having an elongated piston rod provided with a yoke, a pin mounted on one of said levers for engagement with said yoke, control means for engaging and disengaging the yoke with the pin to effect a pumping action on said motor, means for connecting said motor to said cylinder, and cable means connected to said piston rod and platform for disengaging said yoke at a predetermined upper limit of angularity effected by said hydraulic cylinder.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,320,261 5/43 Bulfalow 128-57 2,461,102 2/49 Ackerman 12857 X 2,523,076 9/50 Sweetland 5-63 2,543,493 2/51 Gaudette et a1. 128-58 2,604,639 7/52 Killifer 563 2,939,455 6/60 Arnold 128-57 3,039,458 6/62 Hill 12857 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A MASSAGE-PRODUCING APPARATUS: A RECLINING SURFACE HAVING WEIGHT SUPPORTING MEMBERS, ACTUATOR MEANS FOR PROVIDING AN ARCUATE MOVEMENT TO SAID SUPPORTING MEMBERS; A HYDRAULIC MOTOR INCLUDING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED WITH SAID WEIGHT SUPPORTING MEMBERS TO PROVIDE A PUMPING ACTION; A LIFT PISTON RESPONSIVE TO SAID PUMPING ACTION AND ADAPTED TO RAISE ONE END OF SAID RECLINING SURFACE TO A DESIRED ANGULARITY; MEANS FOR ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING THE OPERATIVELY CONNECTABLE MEANS BETWEEN THE WEIGHT MOVABLE MEMBER AND SAID HYDRAULIC MOTOR; AND MEANS FOR DISENGAGING SAID OPERATIVE CONNECTION AT A PREDETERMINED UPPER LIMIT OF ANGULARITY EFFECTED BY SAID LIFT PISTON. 